Moreland Elementary School hosts STEM night

by Celia Shortt

The Deroko family works on their rockets at Moreland’s STEM Night. Renne,
on left, is helping their daughter Rhian, while Joseph, the dad, helps their sons Joey,
on right, and Jessie.

Moreland Elementary School recently held a STEM night for students and their parents.

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math, and focuses more on invention and critical thinking in education rather than just reading and answering questions about the content.

STEM also focuses on real-world applications for science and math and more hands-on experience. At Moreland’s STEM night, students and their families were able to do hands-on activities dealing with science, technology, engineering, and math. These activities included: working with robots, creating catapults to see how far marshmallows could be thrown, observing heat projects, and building race cars, rockets, bridges, and tall buildings.

This STEM night was Moreland’s second and Principal Melanie Perry enjoys seeing all the families involved.

“We have seen more dads at them,” she said. “They really get involved. STEM night opened the doors and is making it a more welcoming environment for them.”

This event had about 110 students and family who attended.

The Coweta County Board of Education offers ways for schools within the system to be recognized for their work in STEM areas. Moreland Elementary School is one of Coweta’s schools that is just beginning the process of being recognized as a STEM school.

Moreland recently had three of its teachers, Debbie Bassett, Leigh Anne Camp, and Cathy Duncan, recognized as STEM certified by the county.